Blaming UK cancer drugs woe on failed pharma negotiations is 'too simplistic', says ABPI

A report on why UK cancer patients are missing out on drugs available elsewhere is ‘too simplistic’ in attributing the problem to failed negotiations with pharma companies, according to the Association of the British Pharmaceuticals Industry (ABPI).

The report by charities Breast Cancer Now and Prostate Cancer UK shows that National Health Service (NHS) patients in the UK are not always able to access the innovative treatments being made available in some comparable countries of similar wealth, a fact which is not disputed by the ABPI.

The trade group also agrees with the need for change, but it disagrees with the International Comparisons of Health Technology Assessment report – published on Monday – on its claim that a major reason for this is that the UK’s appraisal systems lack the opportunity to negotiate on the price of drugs.